What to do when your lower back hurts

Low back pain is a common phenomenon that occurs regardless of age, but more often in adults. The reasons can be many: from physiological factors to diseases. Sometimes the back pain appears briefly and passes quickly. However, pain in the lower back can be a sign of serious illness and, in these cases, an urgent need to see a doctor.

Reasons

The causes of acute back pain are many, they are strictly individual for each patient. The most important of these are diseases and changes in the spine, which can respond with irreversible consequences.

Basic (most common)

The most common reasons are:

1. Osteochondrosis. The awkward movement causes pressure on the nerve roots of the spinal cord. The burning and discomfort do not stop during the day, if you lift something heavy, there is simply hellish pain in the lower back.
2. Herniated disc. Typically, a hernia is localized in the lower back and any sudden movement of the trunk leads to compression of the nerve roots.
3. Radiculitis. With lumbosacral radiculitis, a throbbing pain syndrome occurs. It causes weight lifting or fruitless movements. The acute pain limits the patient's movements so much that he cannot straighten up and remains in the same position he was in when the attack occurred.
4. Displacement of the vertebrae. This problem is characterized by stabbing pain in the lower back and slightly lower, stiffness of movement. This pathology is accompanied by disorders of urination and intestinal function.
5. Facet syndrome. As the facets of the intervertebral discs expand both above and below, the intervertebral foramen decreases. In this case, unpleasant sensations arise that come suddenly and occur more than once a month. Leaning back, the patient feels discomfort in the back.
6. Epidural abscess. The accumulation of pus in the spinal cord occurs due to infectious diseases of the urinary tract. In addition to pain, fever, weakness and an increase in body temperature occur.

These are the causes - the consequences of diseases of the spinal cord.

The lower back can get sick due to the difference in leg length of 2-3 cm It is difficult for a person to move, pain is felt in the back due to the constant curvature of the spine.

Overload and physical fatigue

In addition to serious diseases, severe pain in the lumbar spine is also due to severe overloads and a strong forward inclination of the trunk. Also, this problem occurs when the effect of temperature on the body is violated. The sources of these pains are:

1. Muscle stretching. Exacerbation of the stretching of the muscles in the lower back occurs due to physical overload. Compression of the muscles causes pain and reduces mobility. This problem occurs in athletes and in people engaged in intense work.
2. Neuralgia. Hypothermia of the back leads to neuralgia - irritation or compression of the nerves. Pathology manifests itself in several ways: sometimes in the form of convulsions, accompanied by redness of the affected area, tremors, tissue edema and severe sweating.
3. Myositis. Lumbar pain and discomfort begin at night, as well as with a sudden increase, with a change in weather conditions, after hypothermia and overexertion.

Frequent colds, reduced immunity, spinal trauma after a blow or fall, both fresh and old, can provoke an attack.

Disorders of internal organs

Sometimes it hurts in the lower back due to damage to other organs: heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, gallbladder. During inhalation, the pain syndrome from the lumbar region diverges along all the nerve channels. Often the causes of this pathology are:

1. Pyelonephritis. It is an infectious inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract. The pain is usually dull, but the attacks come with chills, weakness, nausea and vomiting, fever.
2. Urolithiasis. The problem reveals itself as a sharp, sudden pain that becomes unbearable with long walks and hard work. The attack is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and blood in the urine.
3. Ectopic pregnancy. If there is a rupture of the fallopian tube with miscarriage, there is excruciating pain that radiates to the groin and rectum. The rupture is accompanied by loss of consciousness, and with tubal abortion, a hematoma forms in the peritoneal cavity.
4. Pelvioperitonitis. This is a transient inflammatory process of the uterine appendages. A woman has excruciating pain in her groin and back. In addition to the existing unpleasant sensations, chills, fever and palpitations are added.
5. Tumors of various origins. Cancer with metastases causes painful attacks when pressure is applied to nerve endings. There are often no initial signs of the disease.

Internal organ injuries with attacks of severe pain in the lower back are more difficult to diagnose. Therefore, you should immediately contact a specialist or call an ambulance. In some cases, the delay can lead to serious health problems and even death.

Pain in the lower back is felt in almost all pregnant women. This is due to the restructuring of the body and the increased load on it. Also, the cause can be difficult or complicated work.

Symptoms of potential diseases

Pain syndrome appears most often against the background of a pinched nerve, osteochondrosis, deformity and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, irritation of the nerve roots. Muscle spasms can also cause back discomfort in the lumbar region. Characteristics of the symptoms for different diseases:

1. With low back pain, changes begin in the lumbar vertebrae. At first, acute pain can be controlled with medication. However, mobility remains limited.
2. With sciatica, the symptoms move lower to the upper surface of the legs and buttocks. If there is no timely treatment, the disease becomes a constant companion and can cause other diseases.
3. Osteochondrosis causes the development of other diseases of the spine. Therefore, the pain can occur not only in the lower back, but also spread to the entire pole.
4. Scoliosis is characterized by curvature of the skeleton, degenerative changes. The chronic form can be asymptomatic, in other cases there is pain in the bones.
5. Deaf and drawing pains are typical of diseases of the internal organs (mainly of the genitourinary system and kidneys), benign and malignant tumors.
6. With spondylitis, the pain is dull, aching, very weak at first. At the onset of the disease, it begins to hurt in the lower back, the movements become limited. Gradually, the state of health worsens, the inflammation becomes more pronounced, it becomes difficult to move, even the slightest loads are difficult to give.
7. In spinal tuberculosis, in addition to pain, the body temperature rises. A person feels tired, weak, weak, appetite worsens. At night, there is a strong sweating, frequent need to urinate.

Views

Pain can be localized only in one spot or "spread" over the abdomen, spine and lower back. Symptoms are acute, in the form of low back pain, dull and aching, enveloping. It depends on the disease or the pathological process.

Pain can be intermittent. Usually this is due to physical activity, physiological characteristics, exacerbation of chronic pathologies. Constant and chronic pain occurs against the background of various diseases of internal organs, with vascular injuries, deformation of the musculoskeletal system.

Sharp

Sharp, strong and stabbing pains lead to limited mobility. During such attacks, a person freezes in one position and cannot move. Even slight shaking increases the already unbearable pain. This syndrome is called low back pain. Such symptoms can occur after intense massage or hypothermia.

Whining

Aching pains accompany chronic diseases, often appearing with spondylarthrosis. Symptoms usually occur at night, soon after waking up or after sitting in one position for a long time.

Pulling and stupid

These painful sensations can last a long time, exhaust the person. Most often they can be tolerated. Dull and pulling pains are rare for osteochondrosis, more so for spinal pathologies or damage to internal organs.For example, with pyelonephritis, the kidney tissue swells a lot, the capsule stretches, causing back pain.

Herpes zoster

Symptoms may appear in one spot and radiate throughout the peritoneal region, "spreading" down the back. Girdle pain also affects the entire lower back. Without further diagnosis, the symptoms can be confused with diseases of the spine and joints. However, pain in the girdle usually causes pathologies of the internal organs.

Localization of pain

In ankylosing spondyloarthritis, symptoms appear mainly in the lower back. Basically, the pain manifests itself in the morning, it can begin even late at night and gradually intensify, giving to the lower back. In addition, discomfort in the lower back accompanies diseases of the pelvic organs, trauma of the coccyx, urological and gynecological pathologies, with the threat of miscarriage, after childbirth.

In the upper part, the symptomatology is manifested by kyphosis, trauma, muscle myositis, osteochondrosis, infectious processes or tumors. Also, the cause can be pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, gynecological, kidney and heart diseases, pneumonia, pleurisy, flu, ARVI.

Pain in the left or right side of the lower back appears due to disorders of the central nervous system, diseases of the spine and internal organs. Symptoms will appear from the side of the affected area. The emergence of negative sensations immediately in the left and right sides accompanies pleurisy, hepatitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, inflammation of the prostate, and in women - the appendages.

Functionality in women and men

Some types of pain can only appear in women. For example, with gynecological diseases. Annexesitis is characterized by the appearance of discomfort in the lower abdomen. In this case, the pain sometimes radiates to the lower back. During pregnancy, the primary symptomatology occurs in the groin area and radiates to the lower back due to an increase in the load on the spine.Lower back pain occurs during labor, with the threat of spontaneous abortion, in the late gestation period.

Menopause can be the cause of back pain in the lumbar region when menstruation stops. The appearance of symptoms in the lumbar region is affected by jumps in the level of estrogen, circulatory disorders, the initial stage of osteochondrosis, hernia and other diseases of the spine. Pain also comes from stress, which women are more exposed to than men. In this case, the symptoms are periodic.

In men, back pain is most often associated with professional activities, risks: great physical exertion, hypothermia, work in a draft. There are a number of diseases that cause negative symptoms to develop in the lower back. With prostatitis, the pain first appears in the anal area, but can radiate to the back. Epididymitis is characterized by an inflammatory process. Initially, pain appears in the groin area, then radiates to the lower back. At the same time, this is accompanied by an increase in temperature and swelling of the scrotum.

First aid

What to do if infernal back pain spontaneously arises? The following steps should be performed immediately:

1. Give your back absolute rest.
2. Take a comfortable position, it is best to lie down on a hard surface.
3. You can put ice on your lower back, but first put it on gauze folded in 3-4 layers. This can only be done if the cause of the pain is not an organ infection.
4. Apply a relaxing analgesic gel to the affected area.
5. Take painkillers.

All these activities will help to quickly get rid of severe low back pain. But consultation and examination of specialists are necessary to identify the true cause of this attack and prescribe adequate treatment.

What not to do

In case of sudden back pain, doctors advise against the immediate use of warming ointments and gels. They stimulate blood flow to the sore spot, which helps to increase swelling and thus increase pain. Before visiting a doctor or the arrival of an ambulance, it is completely and categorically excluded:

1. Performing exercises of your choice.
2. Washing in the sauna or Turkish bath, do not use contrasting lavenders.
3. Drink alcohol to relieve pain.

Only a doctor after examination and diagnosis has the right to prescribe treatment for back pain.

What to do next, which doctor should I see?

First you need to see a therapist. He conducts an initial examination, prescribes the necessary tests and, with the results obtained, sends it to a narrow specialist - a traumatologist, surgeon, neuropathologist. If pain is associated with malignant formation, then consultation with an oncologist is required. When pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract become the cause - a gastroenterologist, with female ailments - a gynecologist, a male - a urologist or a proctologist.

Inspection and inspection

To find out why the lower back hurts, an initial visual examination is first performed, followed by palpation. With its help, you can determine the localization of the symptom. The patient describes the nature of the pain, the duration of the attacks, after which it may occur (fall, physical activity). In addition, numerous studies are conducted:

1. Blood test. It can show inflammatory processes, the presence of infections, tumors.
2. Urinalysis. Allows you to exclude kidney diseases. If the analysis is negative, an ultrasound is also prescribed.
3. X-rays. Allows you to identify inflammatory processes, spinal diseases, injuries, cracks, fractures, pinched nerve. Ideally, an x-ray of the spine and pelvic bones is done.
4. CT. Tomography is more informative than radiography, it can show small defects, a 3D image is created. In this case, all bone structures are clearly visible.
5. MRI. It offers the opportunity to explore the soft tissues in or near the spine. At the same time, the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, ligaments and muscles are checked. Hernias and vascular changes are clearly visible.

However, CT and MRI are indicated only for severe symptoms. X-rays or ultrasounds, blood and urine laboratory tests are usually sufficient.

Basic therapy

If low back pain is caused by problems with the spine, complex treatment of the pathology is applied. It includes the following activities:

• organizing a gentle regimen for the spine;
• conduct manual therapy;
• application of therapeutic massage;
• physiotherapy and reflexology sessions: acupuncture, UHF and others;
• drug therapy: drugs, ointment, block;
• wear a special corset if needed;
• perform remedial gymnastics.

The main goal is drug therapy, which is mainly aimed at eliminating negative symptoms and relieving inflammation. As additional funds, physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy are prescribed. In difficult cases, surgery may be required.

Drug treatment

Anti-inflammatories are the first choice for back pain. They also relieve pain. At the same time, analgesics can be prescribed. Muscle relaxants are also prescribed. To reduce degenerative processes in cartilage, chondroprotectors are prescribed. To relieve pain, drug blocks are sometimes performed on the basis of pain medications.

Ointments and gels for topical use are grouped into the following types:

1. Means based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components.
2. Combined preparations with anti-inflammatory effect and regeneration of tissue cells.
3. Anesthetic and irritating agents.
4. Homeopathic remedies.
5. Chondroprotectors that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue.
6. Massage products (cosmetics).

It is important to know that these methods can relieve pain, but cannot cure the root cause. For example, damage to internal organs, if lower back pain appeared due to this reason. In this case, you should undergo an examination, and a specialist will prescribe effective treatment for this particular pathology.

Exercise and massage

Physical therapy (therapeutic gymnastics) and massage are recommended to strengthen the muscle structure of the back, normalize blood circulation and increase tone. Exercise prevents back and lower back pain. The physical therapy complex is selected individually. The massage strengthens the effectiveness of the exercises, restores the elasticity and flexibility of the ligaments. Combination with a bath or sauna can only be allowed on medical advice.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy methods are prescribed only after acute attacks of low back pain have been relieved. So the procedures help reduce or prevent exacerbation. The following are used as physiotherapy:

• mud therapy;
• electrophoresis;
• balneotherapy;
• electrical muscle stimulation;
• phonophoresis (ultrasound);
• paraffin treatment;
• reflexology;
• amplipulse therapy.

Procedures help reduce swelling, have an analgesic effect, improve blood circulation, relax muscles and normalize metabolic processes and lymphatic flow.

Surgical

An absolute indication for surgery is cauda equina syndrome, when urinary and fecal incontinence occurs and numbness occurs in the perineum. In addition, intervention is needed if drug treatment is ineffective, lower back pain persists for more than six months and begins to radiate to the legs. Surgery is also performed in the presence of hernias.

Folk remedies

In addition, folk remedies can be used - infusions, decoctions of medicinal herbs. Compresses are prepared (for example, from chopped onions, fresh burdock leaves, boiled potatoes with horseradish, mustard). They are rubbed with eucalyptus and burdock tincture, warm honey, a mixture of cologne, red pepper, iodine and valerian. For internal use, a tincture of vodka with saber or a decoction of wheat with coriander and milk is recommended.

Advice from the experts

If the pain is felt for at least 3 months, it is considered acute pain. The following tips will help you speed up your recovery from acute low back pain and reduce its intensity:

1. It is important to provide the patient with absolute rest for 2-3 days. You need to go to bed and take a comfortable position: lie on your side and put a pillow between your knees, or lie on your back and put a pillow under your knees. You can not be still all day - it is recommended to get out of bed every 2-3 hours and warm up for 10-15 minutes.
2. If pain cannot be tolerated, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken regularly. Taking them only when the pain increases, you may not get the desired effect.
3. Taking a hot shower every 3 hours or applying a heating pad for 10-15 minutes, or even cold, helps - this improves blood circulation, reduces pain and inflammation.

When you feel better, you should gradually return to your usual lifestyle. Prolonged lying in bed contributes to muscle atrophy and this aggravates the disease. You can train your body by walking or walking on the simulator - this is the simplest exercise for lower back pain.

If low back pain is not an independent disease, then it is a consequence of a serious disease that is present in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately contact a medical institution to identify the pathology and competent treatment.